A walk to enhance supports for those impacted by workplace tragedies is set to take place this weekend.

The annual Steps for Life walk aims to bring awareness to and prevent work-related death or injury.

Steps for Life spokesperson April McCarthy lost her husband Chris at sea on the Sea Gypsy Enterprise fishing boat in 2009.

She says it’s difficult to live as a widow and watch their children grow up without their father, but the loss also brought her connections through gatherings such as the Steps for Life walk.

McCarthy says people do not talk about workplace tragedies enough, and many don’t see the impact the loss has on families. In 2019, she took to social media to change that.

She says after the funeral, very few see the struggles with grief that occurs behind closed doors. Deciding it was time to speak up, McCarthy began posting videos expressing her feelings on Facebook. She wanted to normalize grief for others to realize they are not alone.

McCarthy will be participating in this year’s Steps for Life 5k. The event is entering it’s 14th running, having raised over $400,000 towards peer support and training to help families and victims since the 2000s.

She says raising awareness through events such as the benefit walk helps families like hers heal after tragedy.

The Steps for Life will be going ahead at the Rotary Paradise Youth and Community Centre in Paradise tomorrow at 10:30 a.m.